On December 6th, 2019, a group of Red Mountain Colorado students returned from their quarterly service trip travel to Guatemala. Red Mountain Colorado, the premier mindfulness-based treatment program for adolescents with co-occurring disorders, offers students this unique opportunity to participate in service trips to Guatemala, in partnership with the non-profit organization Cultiva International. This service trip allows students the opportunity to practice all of Red Mountain’s core values, Mindfulness, Safety Compassion, Confidence and Growth.
Guatemala’s population suffers from the fourth-highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world. To combat this health crisis, Cultiva International creates sustainable nutrition and health by teaching rural Guatemalan villagers how to cultivate their own vegetable garden. Cultiva International works to improve the lives of the impoverished rural Guatemalans by teaching sustainable living – fostering independence, not dependence.
Cultiva puts student volunteers to work building Garden Boxes alongside native Guatemalans. The Guatemalan villagers first practice at Cultiva’s training centers, learning how to garden in a classroom-like facility. When they’re ready, they partner with Cultiva’s volunteers to build garden boxes at their own home. Over time, these garden boxes overflow, providing sustainable nutrition not only for the owner of the box, but their neighbors as well. These sustainable, agricultural opportunities empower individuals with the skills needed to take care of their own families — giving them the confidence to create a healthier life. As they share their newfound knowledge and skills with those around them, they begin breaking the cycle of poverty for future generations.
“This amazing opportunity allows our students to gain international experience, broaden their horizons, and most importantly learn the joy of service.” says Josh White, MA, LPC, LCMHC, CGP, WPA, Executive Director of the Red Mountain Programs. “As students give of their efforts and time to the villagers, they receive the gift of increased gratitude for what they have in life and build the awareness that their contributions can impact the lives of others.”
Many of the students were rewarded with experiencing service work for the first time, while a few individuals were returning to Guatemala for a second time and were able to see the positive change and growth that had occurred from their work volunteering on the previous trip. The amazing impact that this service work opportunity has had on the adolescents at Red Mountain Colorado has inspired the Red Mountain Programs to expand the service trip, offering this to the young adult clients at Red Mountain Sedona as well. The trips will alternate between the two programs and will occur about every other month.
About Red Mountain Sedona
The Red Mountain Programs are the leading mindfulness-based, therapeutic programs for adolescents and young adults. We work with the mind, body and spirit using various forms of meditation, mindfulness, yoga, martial arts, life skills education, and multi-modal therapies, including CBT, DBT, EMDR and Brainspotting. Red Mountain Sedona is based in Arizona and serves young adults who need assistance launching into adulthood. Red Mountain Colorado, located just north of Denver, provides an ideal location for adolescents needing adventure-based residential treatment.
For more information about Red Mountain Colorado contact Aleshka Szypulski, Director of Admissions and Marketing at 828-774-9405
Red Mountain Colorado Admissions Line 877-210-0211